Mother-daughter duo defies odds: from daycare struggles to dual graduation triumph

[embed height="208" width="350"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0IUu_gzvjw[/embed]

Lanise Geneya’s journey is a testament to the enduring power of determination and the unbreakable bond between a mother and daughter.

Originally from Haiti, 39-year-old Geneya always dreamed of becoming a nurse. She began her studies at Palm Beach State College in 2006, but her path was quickly altered when she discovered she was pregnant. Prioritizing her new role as a mother, she left school and devoted herself to raising her daughter, Denallie. Five years later, she returned to college and earned her Associate in Arts degree in Early Childhood Education, temporarily deferring her goal of becoming a nurse.  She found work at a preschool. Yet when Denallie was just two, a troubling incident at daycare forced Lanise to make a difficult choice: she withdrew from her nursing program to care for her daughter herself.

Life moved on, and with three more children and over a decade devoted to her family, her dream of nursing seemed to slip further away. But as Denallie approached her own high school graduation, Lanise felt a renewed sense of purpose. “I was stagnant for so long. One day I just prayed on what I should do,” she recalled. Inspired by her daughter’s upcoming milestone, Lanise made herself a promise: she would graduate alongside Denallie.

[caption id="attachment_26548" align="alignright" width="474"] From left dually enrolled graduate Denallie Geneya and her mother Lanise Geneya, who received her AS in nursing.[/caption]

In 2023, mother and daughter enrolled together at Palm Beach State College-Lanise to pursue her nursing degree, and Denallie, a high school student at Santaluces Community High School, to begin her journey toward becoming a pediatrician. While many of Denallie’s friends questioned her decision to take on both high school and college coursework, she remained focused, knowing that dual enrollment would help her reach her goal more quickly.

The road was not easy. Lanise juggled coursework, a job, and caring for her three younger children-often bringing them to class with her. Both she and Denallie faced academic challenges, but they found strength in one another, studying side by side and encouraging each other to persevere. Supportive professors and the shared experience of campus life brought them even closer. “Sometimes on campus, going to class or on my breaks, I would see my mom and I would be like, ‘Hi, Mommy,’” Denallie remembered. “We’d often chat or grab a few minutes together.”

On May 7, 2025, Lanise and Denallie walked across the stage together at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. Lanise received her Associate in Science in Nursing, and Denallie, at just 17, earned her Associate in Arts-before even graduating from high school.

“I’m so grateful to have had this opportunity to go to school with my mom, because not many kids can say that,” Denallie said. “I love my mom, and without her support I couldn’t have done this.”

Lanise reflected on the long and winding road that led to graduation: “There were times I asked myself, ‘What am I doing with my life?’ But I told myself, just get up and be determined. Take that first step. With faith, support, and the love of my children, I learned that the sky’s the limit. Once you set your mind to something, there’s nothing you cannot accomplish.”

Their story is a powerful reminder that dreams may be delayed, but with perseverance and the support of loved ones, they are never out of reach.